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Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) said she will not support former President Trump as a presidential candidate even if he becomes the Republican nominee in the 2024 election.
Collins, a ranking member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, is a moderate lawmaker and one of seven Republicans who voted to convict Trump of incitement of insurrection during his 2021 Senate trial.
Asked by The Hill if she would support Trump following his victory in New Hampshire, Collins said, “I do not support him at this time.”
Instead, she expressed optimism about former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley's campaign, saying she was glad Haley would not drop out after losing New Hampshire to Trump by 11 points. Ta.
Sen.Collins says it's 'very unlikely' he'll support Trump in 2024, citing Biden's 'clumsy' Supreme Court announcement
U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, heads to the Senate floor for a vote on January 23, 2024 in Washington, DC. Collins said he would not support former President Trump as a presidential candidate even if he were chosen as the 2024 Republican presidential nominee. (Samuel Corum/Getty Images)
“I am delighted to hear last night that Nikki Haley is determined to stay.” [the race.] “The more people see of her, the more impressed they will be, especially since she seems to be the only alternative to Donald Trump at this point,” Collins said.
But Maine Republicans stopped short of endorsing Haley.
Collins previously said he was “unlikely” to support Trump, saying the former president should promise to pardon those convicted of taking part in the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. He said there was no.
But other Republican senators have also lined up behind the former president since his overwhelming victories in the Iowa and New Hampshire primaries.
Sen. Scott says decision to endorse Trump over Haley came down to 'one simple question'
Several Republican senators have endorsed former President Donald Trump as a presidential candidate after his convincing victories in the Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primary. (Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Sens. John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) spoke on Tuesday after Trump won 54% of the vote in the Granite State's first national primary. Supported Trump.
“It's time for the Republican Party to unite around President Donald Trump and make Joe Biden a one-term president,” Fisher said in a statement. “The last three years have brought a devastating border crisis, an inflationary economy that has cost families the American dream and a world in constant turmoil with an enemy on the march. , support Donald Trump for president to keep us safe.'' Let's cross our borders, get our economy moving again, and keep America safe. ”
Cornyn expressed his support to X, saying, “To defeat Biden, the Republican Party will need to unite around a single candidate, and it's clear that President Trump is the choice of Republican voters.”
Sen. John Kennedy (R-Louisiana) joined his colleagues on Wednesday in declaring the primary election “over.”
Haley is optimistic about Paul from South Carolina's top team despite local wave of support for Trump
“I left the primaries alone because competition makes us all better, but it's over now,” Kennedy wrote on TV's “X,” adding, “It's going to be President Trump versus President Biden. .It's a choice between hope and more hurt.It's not even.'' Close. I choose hope. I support President Trump and look forward to working with him. ”
Although it was her second defeat after last week's loss in Iowa, former Gov. Haley faces the looming prospect of an embarrassing defeat in her home state primary in South Carolina on February 24th. He vowed to remain in the campaign.
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“New Hampshire is the first in the nation. It won't be the last in the nation,” Haley declared before leaving Tuesday night. “This race isn't over yet. There are still dozens of states left.”
Fox News Digital's Jon Brown and Bradford Betz contributed to this report.